The Irish standard., 1887-03-19
ST.. PATRIOK's DAY.
Address Delivered in The Catholic Church
at New Richmond, Wis, March II,
1885, by s, n, Hawkins ESQ.

AS@S~~ASSy
1885, by S. N. Hawkins, Esq.
At the request of our many readers in
the St. Croix Valley, Wisconsin. we
publish the following address which we
learn was listened to by large congre
cation and gave unbOunded satisfac
ton for the mastery manner in which
it was delivered The speaker having
only about one days notice in which tc
prepare, it is certainly entitled to a
place among the orations Of the day.
Mr.. Hawkins is an old resident of St.
Croix county, Wis, having settled there
when a child. thirty one years ago, and
to-day holds an affectionate place in the
hearts of his fellow-citizens, having
been honored by them to the election OF
several important positions lie is at
the present writing president Of the
local branches Of TIE Irish National
League, Catholic Knights of Wiscon-
sin, and is also the city attorney OF New
Richmond. We regret that lack OF
space precludes the possibility OF our
presenting the address in full.
After referring to the remarkable CO.
incidence that it was on st Patrick 8
Day the British evacuated Boston, and
the Invaluable services rendered by
Irishmen in the war Of the Revolution.
the speaker said:
1t has been for ages, and still is, a
time.honored custom for the scattered
exi|es Of Erin, to assemble with their
sons and daughters at the shrine OF ST..
Patrick, and pay due homage to that
devoted missionary who became the
Apostle of what was then known, and
admitted on all Sides as the "grandest
nation in Europe or perchance it may
be to. once again,
ssRcmember the glories Of Brian the Brave,
Though the DAYS of that hero are Ger
They dwell, too, upon the historical
fact that long before Christianity had
dawned upon the world the flag of Ire
land waved through continental Eu-
rope, over victorious legions and fleets,
the Irish monarchs leading powerful
armies across the plains of Gaul, and up
to the very confines of the Caesars.
History tells us that during period
of five hundred years, one-half Of which
preceded the coming of Christ, Ireland
was at it's height in power and glory as
a nation Previous to ST. Patrick's
time she sent warriors all over Europe,
and after his time her missionaries bore
the gospel Of yeace where, before, her
fierce kings had carried the sword
No person can fully understand the
peculiarities of people until he has
first become acquainted with their his
tory. Then let me ask do you fully I'M
derstand the history Of Ireland? DO
you know that the most ancient written
BOOKS in Europe are the composition
and handwriting of Irishmen? That
they may be found in the Vatican at
Rome, in St. Calls old Church library
in the Alps, at Florence, in Italy, and
many other places too numerous to
mention, that the great school OF Ok
ford was established by all Irishman,
that thousands Of volumes Of Gaelic
manuscript fill the libraries of every
principal city III Europe unopened, un~
translated and unread, that German
professors are even now engaged in the
study of the ancient Irish language
with view of unearthing the treasures
that lie III those long neglected vol
umes? If you do not. then [ say that
it is time you should inform and teach
it to your children. But you may ask
what proof is there of these things?
I answer, the very best kind Of proof
Dante, the great Italian poet, wrote,
saying, "From ireland came the harp
with the rules for playing it," Won
Humboldt says: ITO the Irish mis-
sionaries may be attributed the origin
of the scholastic philosophy which per
vaded Europe for ten centuries"
Even DR.. johnson, the great English
photographer bears this testimony:
sWhat the Irish language is, and to
what other language it has affinity are
very interesting questions, which every
man who h; sany philosophical curiosity
wishes to see solved. We want to
have fuller information concerning
those ages, for such they were, when
Ireland was the school Of the West, the
Quiet habitation of sanctity and itera-
ture.'
The students Of jurisprudence may
find valuable information in the Book
of Rights, written in the Fifth century,
or in the Brehon Laws and the Laws of
Tanistry, which date away back to the
early ages The statesman may read
with pleasure and profit the accounts of
the Irish parliament, held at Tara by
Ollaw Fola, the sage of Ireland, 1917
years before the birth of Christ, and if
he takes the trouble of perusing care
fully, and noting the marked system of
regularity, which governed their every
action, he will no doubt agree with the
historian who says: "Ollaw Fola is cele
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